March 3, 2010
by Meleke Poree | Online Staff Writer
Photo by Terri M. Venesio
Head wrestling coach David Pacheco said that although seven wrestlers were named Big 8 All-Conference wrestlers, the team has had many more accomplishments which have gone unnoticed by the City College student body.
“We have a lot more accomplishments other than placing,” said Pacheco. “We have academic awards, and personal goal attainment. My personal goal is to have our wrestlers be above average and be able to go wherever they want to go in life and go to whatever school they want to go to.”
The team placed fourth in the California Community College State Wrestling Championships, achieving more points than they have in their history. They also won more medals than they ever had.
“It shows we have a good team,” said Pacheco. “It’s only the 2nd time we qualified all 10 (wrestlers), and that is quite an accomplishment.”
Pacheco says that to be a student athlete, you have to cover both parts — be a good student, and a good athlete.
Coach Pacheco says that another big accomplishment is the fact that two members of the wrestling team have also been named to the Academic All-American Team for this season. Both Justen Lockling (Sophomore – 2-time Academic All-American) and Shawn Michalek (Sophomore – All American, 3rd place in State Championships) made the Academic All-American team this year. The Academic All-American team is a team made up of athletes that excel not only on the playing field, but also in academics.
This brings the total Academic All-Americans for City College to 58 total athletes from all sports for this year. That is by far the most in the state according the the City College wrestling website. The next closest is 27. Other members of the team still could make the team this year, but must wait until the end of the spring semester for eligibility.
Despite the teams success, Pacheco feels wrestling might be misconceived by some on campus.
“If you have not watched it before you may not understand it, but it is very exciting … Nothing like the WWF you might see on TV.”
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Mr. Pacheco and Mr. Ulrich,
Moments ago, I listened and read Coach Pacheco’s article that he was featured in titled: A Clouded Game Plan…
Although my Wrestling background is not as extensively decorated as yours and others; however, it has impacted me positively in many ways for my mind, time and energy to be consumed with concern for me to “take a stand” to keep Wrestling alive and flourishing.
It is sad news to see our California College and Universities Sports programs are suffering tremendously due to the budget cuts. It is not fair for Wrestling in California Colleges and Universities, which is an honorable sport, to be subtracted or “cut” completely from our school systems. In my opinion, it is a slowly dying art that needs to be preserved. We as a community need to prevent the sport of Wrestling from being “dropped like flies”. The drive, energy and time that Wrestlers have in competition is the same level of drive, energy and time needed to be put into saving our Wrestling program(s).
Is there already something in the works as far as raising money or a fundraiser to promote saving Wrestling from being cut?
How do we get local community figures such as, Urijah Faber, Kenneth Alexander, Joseph Benavidez, Danny Castillo, Mike Ortega, Justin Buchholz, Dustin Akbari, TJ Dillashaw, Kyacey Uscola and the the rest of Team Alpha Male to get involved with helping out with saving Wrestling from being dropped? Faber’s Team Alpha Male influence(s) can have a huge impact with fundraising or somehow be involved with, spreading the word or bringing the awareness through advertisement (e.g., YouTube, Websites, etc.) to the public who are not too familiar with Wrestling’s struggle to “stay in business”. Because of Faber’s celebrity status and influence he has, he can help support and raise money than most would not be able to afford but would like to. Urijah has drawing power from seats in attendance at the Arco Arena to Pay-per-view(s) on television. I see why not. It is just an idea. What do I know? It is probably easier said than done, but it is worth a shot in attempt to bring public awareness to save Wrestling. By the way, this idea came from what I see Cal Poly’s Wrestling Alumnus, Chuck Liddell , Chad Mendez and others from the Mixed Martial Arts community are doing to save their program. I have some ideas and maybe I can talk to John Reynolds from the school paper and see what we can do. It’s just food for thought. Let us continue to have the opportunity for Wrestling in our California Colleges and one day, again, our Universities.
Semper Fidelis, R.T. Asuncion
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